GLM-4.7 + Conductor: This how I'm running more than 100 SUPER AGENTS AT ONCE! (for low cost)

GLM4.7, Verdant, and Conductor Workflow for Cost-Effective Coding

Key Concepts:

• GLM4.7: A large language model (LLM) offering a significantly cheaper and faster alternative to models like Sonnet and Opus, though slightly less capable than Opus.
• Sonnet & Opus: More powerful, but considerably more expensive LLMs used for coding tasks.
• Verdant: A subscription service providing coding tools, including excellent Git worktree support and code review features. Currently doesn’t support GLM4.7 or Minimax directly.
• Conductor: A macOS application acting as a cloud code and codeex key, enabling the use of GLM4.7 with a workflow similar to Claude Code.
• Git Worktrees: Independent branches of a project allowing for isolated development and preservation of previous states.
• Background Agent: An AI system designed to autonomously execute tasks, such as code generation and implementation, with minimal user intervention.
• Claude Code/Opode/Conduit: Alternative cloud code execution platforms.

1. The Search for a Cost-Effective Background Agent

The speaker has been actively seeking a background agent for coding tasks that doesn’t incur high costs. They found GLM4.7 to be the most suitable option currently, praising its affordability (a year’s coding plan max subscription for $280, compared to significantly more for Claude) and speed. While acknowledging GLM4.7 is slightly less powerful than Opus, the price difference makes it a compelling choice. The speaker’s workflow is shifting towards letting the LLM handle the bulk of the coding, with the user focusing on code review before submitting pull requests (PRs).

2. Integrating GLM4.7 with Existing Tools: Verdant and Conductor

The speaker utilizes Verdant as their primary coding environment due to its cost-effectiveness, lack of model “nerfing” (performance limitations), and robust Git worktree features. However, Verdant doesn’t yet natively support GLM4.7. To bridge this gap, the speaker adopted Conductor, a macOS application that acts as a cloud code key, allowing GLM4.7 to be used within a workflow resembling that of Claude Code. Alternatives to Conductor, such as Claudia (now Opode) and Conduit (cross-platform), were considered but ultimately deemed less suitable.

3. Conductor Setup and Configuration

The process of integrating GLM4.7 with Conductor involves the following steps:

1. Obtain a GLM API Key: Acquire a GLM API key, starting with the $3 plan for testing.
2. Configure Claude Code Settings: Set up Claude Code configuration according to the documentation (referencing previous videos for assistance). This configuration will automatically work with Conductor, regardless of the selected model.
3. Set Default Models: Ensure Sonnet and Opus models are configured as defaults to ensure compatibility.
4. Environment Variable Setup (Alternative): If preserving existing Claude Code settings, install Conductor and configure GLM4.7 environment variables directly within Conductor. This redirects requests to GLM4.7 without altering the model identification within the system prompt (which still identifies it as Sonnet).

Conductor prioritizes the use of Git worktrees, ensuring all changes are made within branches and submitted via PRs, mirroring Verdant’s workflow.

4. Workflow with GLM4.7 and Conductor

The speaker’s workflow using GLM4.7 and Conductor is structured as follows:

1. New Thread Creation: Initiate a new thread within Conductor.
2. Model Selection: Select GLM4.7 (though Sonnet is used for initial safety).
3. Plan Mode: Utilize the “plan mode” to have GLM4.7 generate a plan for the desired implementation. This involves iterative back-and-forth communication with the model. Conductor prompts for follow-up questions, enhancing the planning process with GLM.
4. Implementation: After plan approval, GLM4.7 implements the code.
5. Auto-Approval & Git Management: Conductor maintains auto-approval and manages Git operations, including branch creation and PR generation.
6. Code Review: The speaker focuses on reviewing the code quality within the generated PRs, addressing any issues before merging.

The speaker leverages multiple feature threads within different workspaces and can utilize Verdant for more complex tasks when needed. This setup minimizes memory usage compared to using a full IDE like VS Code.

5. Advantages and Considerations

The speaker highlights several benefits of this workflow:

• Cost Savings: Significant reduction in expenses compared to using more expensive LLMs like Claude.
• Streamlined Git Workflow: Enhanced Git worktree management, promoting a clean and organized development process.
• Reduced Code Review Burden: Focus on high-level architectural changes and code quality rather than reviewing every minor modification.
• Efficiency: Faster development cycles and increased productivity.

A limitation noted is that Conductor is currently only available for macOS. The speaker also expressed a desire for the ability to customize the planning model within Conductor and requested community assistance if anyone knows how to achieve this.

6. Future Content and Community Engagement

The speaker plans to create a video detailing their complete workflow, including code review processes. They encourage viewers to suggest topics and engage with the channel through comments, subscriptions, and donations via Superthanks or channel membership.

Notable Quote:

“I can pay for a year's worth of GLM coding plan max subscription for just $280, while the same plan for something like Claude will cost way more.”

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The speaker presents a compelling case for utilizing GLM4.7 as a cost-effective background agent for coding tasks. By integrating it with Verdant and Conductor, they have established a streamlined workflow that leverages the strengths of each tool. This approach prioritizes efficiency, cost savings, and a robust Git-based development process, making it a valuable solution for developers seeking to maximize productivity without breaking the bank. The reliance on macOS-specific software (Conductor) is a current limitation, but alternatives are mentioned for Windows users.